System for the molecular analysis of d13C, d15N and dD (i.e. compound specific isotope analysis):
– Gas Chromatograph, Thermo Trace GC Ultra model, fitted with SSL and PTV injectors, digital control of pressure and flow, and FID.
– Finnigan GC/C-III interface:
1. An oxidation and a reduction micro-ovens convert the organic compounds eluted from the GC into CO2 and N2 for the determination of d13C and d15N. The water produced during the combustion is eliminated by a non-cryogenic phase separator. An open-split double injection system allows the coupling of the interface with the mass spectrometer. For the measure of d15N, CO2 is quantitatively retained in an online cold trap.
2. A high temperature thermochemical conversión (TC) reactor produces H2 from the GC-eluted compounds for the determination of dD.
The thermochemical reactor can be placed in parallel to the combustion reactor in the Finnigan GC/C-III interface.